11 things that help me as a news entrepreneur
Enclosed is a listicle and a cat meme, so this newsletter really does have it all.
Hey y’all! Anita here. This week’s edition of The Other Wave will be short and sweet since I’m currently vacationing — for the first time in a long time — in Montréal with my fiancé for our anniversary. ⚜️
Since I embarked on my journey as a news entrepreneur 1.5 years ago, I’ve picked up some insights along the way, and figured I’d share 11 with you this week (because 10 is overrated).
Surround yourself with consistent and supportive straight shooters whose critiques and praise you know you can trust.
Make time for your loved ones and hobbies; they’ll keep you grounded during this intense period of time.
You’ll go through moments of doubt and confidence as an entrepreneur, so stay the course during those tougher times. As clichéd as it sounds, it really is about the journey.
Trust in your vision, and don’t let anybody — especially those who aren’t knowledgeable about your industry or who don’t know anything about you — tell you it won’t work.
You bring unique skills and perspectives, so know your worth.
Pursue value-aligned partners. Don’t chase big names or brands for their own sake.
Don’t have tunnel vision. Going from point A to B may seem linear but sometimes going off the beaten path is your best bet.
Plan, plan, plan ahead, so you can prepare for and better manage both opportunities and problems that come your way.
Your word is your bond, so conduct yourself with integrity, honesty and consistency.
Hire staff and recruit advisors who believe in your mission, and ideally are from the communities you serve.
Diversify your revenue streams.
Are you an entrepreneur? Feel free to share your tips in the comments, below.
Paid opportunity: Apply to be a Green Line fellow
The Green Line is currently hiring Business Development Innovation Fellows, as well as News Innovation Fellows who are interested in reporting on digital communities, e/sports and sneakers, especially through a Toronto lens. I’m prioritizing applicants who identify as being from underrepresented communities in Toronto, which in this context means people who don’t see themselves reflected in legacy local media.
If you want to learn more, feel free to contact me for more information. Or if you’re interested, please send me your resume, cover letter and links to three clips (multimedia is preferred).
Consulting call-out: McConnell Foundation
The lovely team at the McConnell Foundation asked me to share this opportunity with my network. Contact them directly for more information:
The Healthy News & Information Ecosystems framework, developed by Impact Architects in the U.S., is a tool for understanding and benchmarking the state of “information ecosystems.” A group of Canadian funders are adapting the framework for use in Canada. They are looking for a consultant to lead this work. Take a look at the Request for Proposals, here. This work is part of a growing interest in Canadian philanthropy on the relationship between functional information ecosystems, a healthy democracy and community well-being.
In my community
Informed Opinions just launched its Toxic Hush Action Kit, a resource for people experiencing online hate; its creation was inspired by insights from women thought leaders who attended a roundtable hosted by Informed Opinions last year.
The Poynter Institute is now accepting applications for its 2022 Leadership Academy for Diversity in Media, and as an alum of the inaugural cohort, I highly recommend applying for this career-changing opportunity. Apply by Jan. 15, 2022.
My fellow Online News Association board member Rodney Gibbs announced that his employer The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently unveiled an innovative and limited-run NFT series about Braves World Series coverage.
Cool stuff I like
Check out Scale Without Borders, a startup helping immigrants access tech jobs and resources, founded by my friend Nouhaila Chelkhaoui. I just moderated “Here's why the Canadian tech ecosystem needs newcomer talent” panel at SWB’s inaugural summit.
As my longtime subscribers know, I’m always on the hunt for great CanCon, so I was thrilled to come across The Exchange, a thoroughly Canadian 2021 comedy-drama film set in the fictional rural Ontario town of Hobart. In it, socially awkward teen Tim decides to get a mail order best friend from France.
It’s a timeless and oft-repeated message, but philosopher Alan Watts’ thought-provoking lecture that breaks down the difference between money and wealth is still worth a listen, so check it out in this Big Think article.
How you can support The Other Wave
My professional mission has always been to support the global movement towards more thoughtful, impactful news coverage, and all the ways that manifests. If The Other Wave gets you to think even a little differently about journalism, especially in Canada, then I will have accomplished what I set out to do. And if TOW gets you to take action and support Canadian media outlets — especially ones that strive to be innovative and inclusive — I will have exceeded my expectations.
If my values and goals resonate with you, please consider supporting fiercely independent media analysis that fills in gaps in coverage of the Canadian journalism landscape. How? Feel free to provide feedback, pass along resources, donate money or simply share this newsletter with your friends.